For openers, 5 of the best

The Bulls play their 38th home opener on Wednesday. Here are the top performances from the first 37

October 29, 2003|By K.C. Johnson, Tribune.

1. Jerry Sloan, Oct. 18, 1966

Playing before 4,200 fans at the Chicago Amphitheatre, Sloan scored 26 points to help the Bulls defeat San Francisco 119-116 and win their inaugural home game. The victory made the Bulls 2-0 en route to a playoff berth in an expansion season.

2. Michael Jordan, Oct. 26, 1984

The Bulls downed Washington 109-83 before 13,913 fans at Chicago Stadium. Jordan scored 16. The performance makes the cut merely because it marked the start of Jordan's amazing career.

3. Nate Thurmond, Oct. 18, 1974

The 6-foot-11-inch center blocked a team-record 12 shots as the Bulls outlasted Atlanta 120-115 in overtime. The dominant defensive performance before a Chicago Stadium crowd of 7,351 foreshadowed the Bulls leading the league in defense en route to their first division title.

4. Jordan, Nov. 3, 1995

Before a sellout United Center crowd of 23,862, Jordan dropped 42 points on Charlotte in a 105-91 victory, the first of an NBA-record 72.

5. Jordan, Nov. 3, 1989

In Phil Jackson's first game as coach, Jordan soared and scored 54 points to power the Bulls to a 124-119 overtime victory over Cleveland at Chicago Stadium.